MARGAO
Term it a visit to seek blessings or to simply apply balm on ruffled feathers, newly-appointed Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Michael Lobo and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief Amit Patkar descended at Malbhat to what they claimed as a visit to seek blessings and guidance of senior Congress MLA Digambar Kamat.
The duo’s visit assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of reports that the former Chief Minister, who was the Opposition Leader in the outgoing Assembly, was expecting a call from Madam Sonia Gandhi to take over the reigns of CLP once again.
There were even reports that Kamat would have got the majority votes in the CLP if the party had to seek the opinion of the newly-elected party MLAs. Lobo, however, maintained he has no idea why the Congress party leadership did not go for voting to decide on the CLP leader, further saying it has always been customary for the Congress and BJP that their Legislature party leaders are announced by the Central leadership.
Lobo added: “We have come to seek Kamat’s blessings. He was the CLP leader in the last term. He was my colleague in the Assembly. We have learnt from him so many things since the time I was a Zilla Panchayat member and then an MLA. I used to watch his debates with late Manohar Parrikar and also his functioning as a Chief Minster. We have come to see him to seek his blessings. Kamat is the first leader from whom I have sought blessings. He has been our leader and his blessings is important for us.”
Asked how Kamat has reacted to his plea, Lobo said, “The Margao MLA has told me that we should all work together for the party and for the people. I will seek his guidance on various issues. It is important to take his guidance and it is important that we work together.”
When suggested that minority Salcete does not figure in the scheme of the Congress party given that the new CLP leader and GPCC chief hail from outside Salcete, Lobo shot back, “The party leadership has appointed our young MLA Yuri Alemao as the working president. He would play a major role in party building in Salcete and in down South.”
Reminding that Saxttikars have supported the Congress party over the years, Lobo said, Salcete has been a Congress bastion, adding that Salcete had led the way, right from the Opinion Poll to taking up various issues plaguing the State. “Our agenda in Salcete is to get back our voters who have gone astray. Young Yuri has a fire in his belly to take the party forward. He is soft hearted, but has a vision for the State. He would put up good work and take the party forward.”
To another question, the new CLP leader exuded confidence that the people of Goa would see reason and would realise that voting for multiple parties will not do them any good.
